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Steelers select WR Demarcus Ayers WR Houston

Clete said:
Tomlin stated that Ayers is strickly a punt retuner
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I'm pretty sure that was the Steelers original intention with AB as well, and Emmanuel Sanders was meant to be the more permanent fixture as a WR (hence the rounds they were taken). Intended role doesn't always mean a guy cannot exceed the role they were drafted to fulfill.
 
Clete said:
Tomlin stated that Ayers is strickly a punt retuner
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Well, based on Wheaton's ****** performance against the Broncos, and assuming they don't want to burn AB out, they need one.
 
ianv2012 said:
I'm pretty sure that was the Steelers original intention with AB as well, and Emmanuel Sanders was meant to be the more permanent fixture as a WR (hence the rounds they were taken). Intended role doesn't always mean a guy cannot exceed the role they were drafted to fulfill.
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W are loaded at WR and they love Eli Rodgers, especially Ben. He will not be a WR.
 
CoolieMan said:
Where has he said that? None of the videos I've found have him restricting Ayers to just PR duty.....
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Well they talked about him being the best punt returner they scouted, so obviously that means he is seen only as a returner....smh
 
The Steelers' third-day picks aren't going to help them this year— their words, not mine.

Jerald Hawkins isn't “complete by any means.” Sixth-rounder Travis Feeney would have to overtake James Harrison, Jarvis Jones, Arthur Moats and Bud Dupree (not happening). Their first seventh-rounder, DeMarcus Ayers, is strictly a punt returner, and Tomlin said he isn't “concerned about preserving” current punt returner Brown. The second seventh-rounder, Tyler Matakevich, was taken, admittedly, because he was the highest-ranked player left on the Steelers' board.


http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/10388835-74/steelers-defense-draft
 
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I said this in another thread... but I'll restate it here. In order for Ayers to even be on the game day 45-man roster, he will have to bring something more to the table than returning punts. The only real opening seems to be as a 5th receiver (thank you Martavis!?). However, a 5th WR normally plays A LOT of special teams and not only the punt return team--this will be his nut... and it's a pretty big one.

That said... I do see some of the shiftiness that people are talking about. He is not much smaller than AB. There is however, a bit of a difference in speed and movement. AB ran a 4.48 40 at his pro-day and a 6.98 3-cone at the combine. Ayers ran a 4.69 40 and a 7.30 3-cone at his pro-day.

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earlier in his career at UH he also returned kickoffs, but did not do that last season because they had a better kickoff return man.
 
Clete said:
The Steelers' third-day picks aren't going to help them this year— their words, not mine.

Jerald Hawkins isn't “complete by any means.” Sixth-rounder Travis Feeney would have to overtake James Harrison, Jarvis Jones, Arthur Moats and Bud Dupree (not happening). Their first seventh-rounder, DeMarcus Ayers, is strictly a punt returner, and Tomlin said he isn't “concerned about preserving” current punt returner Brown. The second seventh-rounder, Tyler Matakevich, was taken, admittedly, because he was the highest-ranked player left on the Steelers' board.


http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/10388835-74/steelers-defense-draft
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the comment about Ayers comes across as the writers words, when the special teams coach was asked he said they would have to ask the WR coach about their plans for Ayers on offense. Tomlin saying they are not concerned about preserving Brown means nothing. If they find a guy as good as or better than AB at returning kicks, and that guy can help in other ways, he will get that duty.

It was said that he was drafted since he was the top PR on their list..that doesn't mean that is ALL he would do. Colbert called him a slot receiver and punt returner
 
Clete said:
Tomlin stated that Ayers is strickly a punt retuner
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I read the link you provided, that was the sport's writers opinion, not Tomlin's actual words. I also seen the following in the link..

“If they are the best and they prove it, they will be given an opportunity to (start),” Tomlin said. “That's how it has always been. I believe it is realistic, and that's why we chose them where we chose them. They have to earn it, and we will give them the opportunity to do that.”
 
He did not test well for speed. Hell I ran a 4.6 in college. At least we didn't take him in the 3rd round
 
Sometimes the testing doesn't matter for a player, they have football speed, heart, and put in the work to be great. This kid is fast on tape and dangerous with the ball in his hand, not to mention he has glue for hands, regardless of his punt return ability.
 
Cope said:
He did not test well for speed...
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I read in today's Houston Chronicle that he ran with a broken bone in his hand (and the hand bandaged up). He's plenty fast, and a smart kid.

I'd be surprised if he doesn't stick.
 
t was an extremely rough day for University of Houston wide receiver DeMarcus Ayers on Saturday at the NFL scouting combine as a broken hand affected his workout.

Ayers ran a glacially slow 40-yard dash, a 4.72 that was the slowest time for a wide receiver in years. Ayers said he normally runs high 4.4 to low 4.5 times, adding that his best time ever was a 4.42.
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I'll take his word for it that he can run between 4.4 and 4.5. He looks pretty good on tape.
 
I understand that he ran much better in his pro day at UH, which was attended by Tomlin, Colbert and Lake.

They came primarily to see William Jackson. But, in the end, three UH players were drafted, and so far four more have been signed as UDFAs.

It speaks well to what HC Herman is doing since leaving Ohio St.
 
asked TMC his opinion

I like him. I don't think his combine and workout numbers are indicative of his athleticism. He was reported to run in the 4.4 range, ran at the combine and pro day with a cast on his hand and it meant he had to use his off hand or just not lean on it, hurts the start, kills the times. Also had to use his off hand to reach on the VJ. Just made his numbers look bad. But, he is elusive,quick, really good hands, great return guy, could be the punt returner, should fit in the slot, can give you some trick plays, I'd compare him to Antwaan Randle El. If he can do what he did in Houston, he sticks.
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find the Peach Bowl and watch him against Florida State. He lined up all over the place. Inside, outside, in the backfield and he definitely doesn't look like a 4:6 runner....
 
Coach Danny Smith on LaMarcus Ayers

This is a dynamic kid, Demarcus Ayers. I’m excited about it, very excited about it. He is an excellent punt returner. We had him rated number one on our list as far as returners were concerned. Not taking into play, wide receiver skills in this setting, he is outstanding and he does a great job. He has a lot of special skills. We are excited about it.
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When I evaluate a returner, I’m not going to bore you with a bunch of things. We’re not just talking about the whole education of all of this thing for all of us. I look at their hands, their quickness. Do they muff? Are there fumbles? What’s their decision making? What’s their vision? What’s their ability to avoid? Do they break tackles? Are they fearless? Are they tough? Will they outrun coverage? Do they have TD speed? Are they sideline returners? Are they middle returners? Can they make cuts at full speed? Are they a must gather guy? Can they make the first guy miss? Do they only get what’s blocked? Do they have the ability to create? And I plus and minus all of those qualities. Then after I plus and minus those qualities, I reach a conclusion. That’s how I come up the list and rate. This kid had more of those qualities as a punt returner than anyone else I evaluated.
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This kid plays fast. If I showed you the tape I put together on this kid, you wouldn’t think that that’s a matchup of the time he does. ... This kid plays faster than his 40-time. Maybe that’s his vision. Maybe that’s quicker decisions. I think if we took a lot of guys at 7/11, they would run fast, but if the cop is chasing them they would be a little faster. I think some of our players are like that. Don’t make the insinuation that they’re all getting chased by the cops. I didn’t say that. I’m just saying in that environment when you have a defensive guy or punt team chasing these guys, they’re pretty quick. This guy falls in that category.
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http://www.steelers.com/news/articl...th-round/2fecbc36-ed9b-4e4e-85d8-6a1789213300
 
Pretty amazing we drafted this kid as a punt returner first and foremost, yet he caught 98 passes for 1,222 yards and 6 touchdowns last season on 132 total targets.

According to Steelers Depot, only five other players had more receptions than Ayers did last season in the FBS.

If he can make it as a returner, highly likely they'll find a role for him in the slot and in gadget plays a la Randle El. Which means the WR's past the top four (AB, Wheaton, Coates, DHB) should all buckle up their helmets if they want to grab a spot on the roster, cause this kid may just take it from them.
 
Let me get this right. This guy is 5'9" tall and ran just a 4.71 as a wide receiver at the combine. Can you say NUMBERS REJECT? There is no such player that short and slow in the NFL today.

I know this is round seven, but the pick is a bad one.
 
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